Door opener

Abstract

A door opener includes a base section with a pull structure on a first side thereof and a U-shaped mounting structure on an opposite second side. The mounting structure has a first engaging surface and a second engaging surface spaced-apart from and facing the first engaging surface. A distance between the engaging surfaces proximate the base section corresponds to a distance between a front face and a back face of the door. The door opener is press-fit onto an edge of the door such that the first and second engaging surfaces frictionally engage the front and back surfaces of the door, and such that the pull structure is disposed in-line with and extends away from the edge of the door. During use, a user uses a part of an arm or a leg to pull the pull structure in a direction along which the door opens, thereby opening the door.

1 . A door opener for attaching to and opening a cabinet door, the door opener comprising:
 a U-shaped mounting portion having two legs extending in a same first direction away from a first side of a base section, the two legs and the first side of the base section cooperating to form a channel with an opening for receiving an edge of the door, each one of the two legs including an inner and an outer face, the inner faces of the legs being disposed in a spaced-apart facing relationship one relative to the other; and   a pull structure protruding from a second side of the base section that is opposite the first side, the pull structure extending away from the second side of the base section in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and the pull structure having an ellipsoid-shaped outer engagement surface,   wherein the two legs are inclined one toward the other when the door opener is in a detached condition, such that a distance between the inner faces of the legs as measured at the opening is less than a distance between the inner faces of the legs as measured at the base section, and   wherein the legs are displaced outwardly one away from the other when the door opener is in an attached condition and the edge of the cabinet door is received within the channel, so that the inner faces of the legs frictionally engage opposite surfaces of the cabinet door proximate to said edge.   
     
     
         2 . The door opener of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the inner faces of the legs as measured at the opening is substantially equal to the distance between the inner faces of the legs as measured at the base section when the door opener is in the attached condition and the edge of the door is received within the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The door opener of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the inner faces of the legs as measured at the base section is substantially equal to a thickness of the cabinet door as measured between the opposite faces at said edge. 
     
     
         4 . The door opener of  claim 1 , wherein the inner faces of the legs are generally planar. 
     
     
         5 . The door opener of  claim 1 , comprising at least one ridge structure protruding from the inner face of each of the legs and extending along in a third direction transverse the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The door opener of  claim 1 , wherein the inner face of each of the legs has a non-slip finish. 
     
     
         7 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The door opener of  claim 1 , wherein the pull structure has a non-slip finish. 
     
     
         11 . The door opener of  claim 1 , wherein the base section, the two legs and the pull structure are formed of a single, continuous material. 
     
     
         12 . A door opener for attaching to and opening a cabinet door, the door opener comprising:
 a base section comprising a pull structure formed on one side thereof, the pull structure extending away from the base section along a first direction and having an ellipsoid-shaped outer engagement surface; and   a front leg extending away from a front edge of said base section and a back leg extending away from a back edge of said base section, the front leg having a first engaging surface and the back leg having a second engaging surface, the first engaging surface being spaced-apart from and facing the second engaging surface, a distance between the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface measured at the base section corresponding to a distance between a front face and a back face of said cabinet door proximate an edge thereof;   wherein, when the door opener is attached to said cabinet door proximate said edge thereof, the first engaging surface frictionally engages the front surface of said cabinet door and the second engaging surface frictionally engages the back surface of said cabinet door, and said pull structure is disposed in-line with and extends away from said edge of said cabinet door.   
     
     
         13 . The door opener of  claim 12 , wherein the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface are generally planar. 
     
     
         14 . The door opener of  claim 12 , comprising at least one ridge structure protruding from the first engaging surface and at least one ridge structure protruding from the second engaging surface. 
     
     
         15 . The door opener of  claim 12 , wherein the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface extend away from the base section, and when the door opener is other than attached to said cabinet door the distance between the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface decreases with increasing distance away from the base section. 
     
     
         16 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The door opener of  claim 12 , wherein the pull structure has a non-slip finish. 
     
     
         20 . The door opener of  claim 12 , wherein the base section, the front and back legs, and the pull structure are formed of a single, continuous material. 
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled)